WANA (Jan 24) – The head of Iran’s delegation at the UN Human Rights Mechanism session stated that the reports by the Special Rapporteur did not reflect the realities of human rights in Iran, emphasizing Iran’s commitment to its international human rights obligations.

 

At the 48th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, which focused on defending the fourth national report of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazem Gharibabadi highlighted the mechanism’s role as a “global forum” for fostering constructive and meaningful dialogue, enabling significant capacity for supporting and promoting human rights. He described the gathering as an opportunity to discuss achievements and challenges based on credible information, avoiding “confrontational and politicized behavior.”

 

Referring to Iran’s national report, Gharibabadi said it outlines a series of measures and initiatives adopted to enhance the rights of the Iranian people across civil, political, economic, social, and cultural dimensions since the third UPR cycle.

 

Focus on Vulnerable Groups

The Deputy Minister for Legal and International Affairs pointed to special attention given to protecting vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, children, and women. He noted key measures to develop rural and nomadic areas, mitigate the impacts of climate change and natural disasters, and support refugees and migrants.

 

Emphasis on Human Rights Education

The head of the Iranian delegation to Geneva highlighted Iran’s focus on human rights education, stating that such education strengthens the foundations of respecting and ensuring fundamental rights and freedoms. Iran has pursued this effort in all sectors, targeting the general population, judges, lawyers, law enforcement officers, prison staff, and government employees.

 

He also mentioned the integration of human rights topics into school curricula by the Ministry of Education and the establishment of human rights as a graduate field of study. For instance, over 300 students pursued master’s degrees in human rights free of charge at public universities between 2020 and 2024.

 

Human Rights Training and Publications

Gharibabadi noted that over 800 human rights and citizenship training courses, amounting to 280,000 hours, were held for judges, law enforcement officers, and prison staff during the reporting period. Additionally, more than 186 books on human rights were published in 2022–2023, and over 6,300 educational messages were broadcast on radio and television to raise public awareness.

 

Iran’s Engagement with International Human Rights Mechanisms

He emphasized Iran’s commitment to its international human rights obligations and substantive engagement with UN human rights mechanisms. Among the measures taken were the following:

 

Submission of the fourth periodic report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in October 2023.

 

Presentation of the 20th–27th periodic reports on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in August 2024.

 

Submission of the fifth and sixth periodic reports on the Convention on the Rights of the Child in November 2023.

 

A visit by the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights to Tehran in February 2024 to meet with senior officials and civil society representatives.

 

A memorandum of understanding with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) signed in September 2024 and its first phase implemented in December 2024 in Geneva.

 

A visit by the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on human rights in May 2022.

 

Responses to 233 communications from UN special procedures between 2020 and the end of 2023.

 

Advancements Despite Sanctions

According to the UN Development Programme’s Human Development Report, Iran remains classified as a “high human development” country despite harsh and inhumane sanctions. Gharibabadi emphasized extensive intellectual, human, and financial investments to implement third-cycle UPR recommendations, leading to significant progress in improving people’s lives.

 

Eliminating Gender Gaps in Education

He highlighted the elimination of gender gaps in primary and secondary education, with girls now comprising 49% of students—almost equal to the proportion of women in the general population. Additionally, 40% of the country’s university students are studying for free in public higher education institutions.

 

Advances in Healthcare

In the healthcare sector, he mentioned:

 

Coverage of 93% of rural and 98% of urban areas under the national health network.

 

Establishment of 126 nomadic health houses and equipping 400 others.

 

A 47% increase in the recruitment of doctors in rural and underserved areas.

 

Reduction of inpatient costs from 37% to 3% for rural residents and 6% for urban dwellers.

 

Free treatment for certain special patients under social security.

 

Creation of 34 specialized hospitals to support mothers and children.

 

Improvements in Rural Development

He cited increases in access to safe drinking water (86% in rural areas and 99% in urban areas), 100% electricity coverage in cities, and over 99% connectivity of rural areas to the national electricity grid. He also highlighted initiatives such as 95% internet and telephone access in rural areas, construction of 350,000 rural housing units, and renovation of 550,000 homes through government support.

 

Job Creation and Skills Training

The revival of 8,400 inactive production units under the law supporting rural and nomadic job development, creating 195,000 jobs, and delivering skills training to over 2 million people were also noted. Gharibabadi emphasized that 51% of this training was provided to women and girls, particularly in underserved provinces such as Sistan-Baluchestan, Khuzestan, and Kurdistan.

 

Allocation of 3% of Oil and Gas Export Revenues for Developing Underprivileged Regions

In addressing poverty alleviation, 3% of the revenues from crude oil and natural gas exports have been allocated to the development of underprivileged regions as per the country’s development programs. Significant portions of the annual budget have also been designated for poverty reduction, distributed regionally. Measures include identifying and supporting individuals in the lower income quintiles (1-5) through the Iranian Welfare System, providing targeted cash and non-cash subsidies, and implementing electronic voucher programs for essential goods to mitigate the negative effects of unilateral sanctions. Additionally, about 6% of the public budget has been allocated for compensating damages caused by major natural disasters like floods and earthquakes and for rebuilding affected areas.

 

Human Rights-Related Achievements and Statistics

In discussing human rights-related achievements, Gharybabadi highlighted initiatives such as:

 

The approval of a general bill to prevent harm to women and enhance their security against abuse.

 

The operation of 145 political parties, over 14,000 labor and employer unions, and about 300 churches across Iran.

 

The activities of 57 organizations related to religious minorities, with over 1,900 Sunni managers holding positions in various administrative sectors.

 

The operation of 39 child and women legal support offices nationwide, and internet access for more than 116 million users (fixed and mobile).

 

Active contributions by 23,500 female authors, 1,051 female publishers, and 806 female media managers.

 

The employment of over 130,000 lawyers and 1,006 female judges.

 

Providing free education for more than 700,000 Afghan students in Iranian schools and hosting up to 8 million refugees and undocumented migrants.

 

Severe Unilateral Sanctions During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized the severe unilateral sanctions imposed on Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that while the Iranian government mobilized all resources to combat the virus, such measures heavily restricted access to international financial resources, medicine, and essential medical equipment. Iran managed the crisis through its Health System Transformation Plan, nationwide free vaccination campaigns, and enhanced care facilities, despite the hindrance caused by these sanctions.

 

He also criticized the United States for its non-compliance with the International Court of Justice’s October 3, 2018 ruling, which mandated exemptions for humanitarian aid, pointing out that the sanctions severely affected Iran’s economy and violated basic human rights.

 

Call for Attention to the Suffering from Unilateral Sanctions

Gharybabadi urged the international community to take serious action against the unjust and arbitrary sanctions affecting millions of Iranians, exacerbating environmental challenges, and undermining access to renewable energy and eco-friendly technologies. He emphasized that such actions violate international law, the principle of non-interference, and fundamental human rights, and called for immediate global attention to end these inhumane policies.

 

Economic Sanctions as a Weapon and the Impact of Terrorism

Gharybabadi described economic sanctions as weapons affecting the lives of entire populations and cited terrorism as another significant challenge. Over four decades, terrorist attacks in Iran have claimed more than 23,000 lives, with 17,000 attributed to the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), a group harboring in Western countries while claiming to advocate for human rights.

 

He urged the international community to address terrorism without political bias, calling for accountability for perpetrators and highlighting the hypocrisy of supporting groups like the MEK under the guise of human rights advocacy.

 

Concerns About the UN Special Rapporteur’s Reports

The head of the Iranian delegation to Geneva criticized the politically motivated appointment of a country-specific Special Rapporteur for Iran. He argued that the reports presented since 2011 have failed to reflect the realities of human rights in Iran, relying instead on biased, unverified information. He urged a more balanced and non-politicized approach to human rights evaluations.

 

Respect for Political Structures and National Laws by Special Rapporteurs

The Deputy Foreign Minister stated that Special Rapporteurs have deliberately overlooked human rights progress in Iran and consistently attempted to portray a distorted and vague picture of the country’s human rights situation. He added that despite this unacceptable approach, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always engaged with country-specific Special Rapporteurs through in-person and virtual meetings, responding to draft reports, and maintaining correspondence with them.

 

Gharibabadi emphasized that Special Rapporteurs must adhere to their codes of conduct and respect the political structures and laws of the countries concerned. Only through such behavior can they build trust and reduce suspicions of political bias in their missions.

 

Regarding the so-called fact-finding committee, Gharibabadi said it was established through the lobbying and political deals of certain Western governments. He noted that since its inception, the committee has issued numerous unsubstantiated, biased, and politically motivated reports against Iran, lacking legitimate legal foundations.

 

He continued, stating that the Islamic Republic of Iran has prepared over 50 documented and solid reports concerning the events of 2022, many of which were in response to the claims made by the fact-finding committee. However, he lamented that the committee ignored these reports and relied solely on information provided by anti-Iranian groups, individuals, and media outlets.

 

Iran’s Protective Measures During the 2022 Unrest

Gharibabadi highlighted that the establishment and extension of the fact-finding mission came despite Iran’s extensive protective and responsible measures during the 2022 unrest. He noted that a special committee, formed by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, investigated the causes of the unrest, assessed damages to public and private properties, and evaluated harm to individuals and law enforcement personnel. This committee presented a comprehensive report with recommendations and solutions in March 2023.

 

He outlined some of Iran’s accountability-based actions, countering the creation of the politically motivated fact-finding mission. These include the pardoning of nearly all those accused or convicted during the unrest, compensating affected individuals, and initiating judicial proceedings against those who violated the law during their duties. He added that compensation payments and judicial follow-ups are ongoing.

 

Politically Driven Fact-Finding Missions Against Iran

Criticizing the silence of international bodies regarding the brutal actions of the Israeli regime, Gharibabadi argued that mechanisms like the fact-finding mission for Iran are politically motivated. He emphasized that while international human rights mechanisms remain inactive in the face of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide committed by the Israeli regime—which has slaughtered over 47,000 innocent people, mostly women and children—they instead target a country like Iran. Iran has achieved significant human rights advancements while facing unilateral and unlawful sanctions and terrorist acts supported by those claiming to champion human rights.

 

Death Penalties and Combating Drug Trafficking

Gharibabadi addressed the issue of the death penalty, noting that the Islamic Republic of Iran, in accordance with international regulations, imposes this punishment for the most severe crimes, including premeditated murder, terrorism, and large-scale organized and armed drug trafficking. He highlighted that a significant portion of the world’s narcotics is produced near Iran’s borders.

 

He stated that drug trafficking from Iran to Europe involves organized, violent crimes often carried out with various weapons. Iran has paid a heavy price in combating drug traffickers, with nearly 4,000 law enforcement personnel killed and about 12,000 injured.

 

The Deputy Foreign Minister noted the significant societal harm caused by the domestic distribution of narcotics, which leads to the death of over 4,000 people annually due to drug abuse.

 

Efforts to Amend Drug Laws

Gharibabadi pointed out that recent amendments to Iran’s drug laws have significantly reduced death penalty sentences in this area. He also emphasized that qisas (retribution) differs from execution, as it is a personal right of the victim’s family and can only be waived with their consent.

 

He highlighted the government’s emphasis on reconciliation in qisas cases, facilitated by a National Peace and Forgiveness Commission with 25,000 members across 31 provinces. Over the past 18 months, 835 finalized qisas cases have ended in reconciliation, including 21 cases involving minors.

 

Human Rights Challenges and Double Standards

Gharibabadi criticized the instrumentalization and politicization of human rights, discriminatory approaches, and double standards. He noted that some countries seek to impose their lifestyles globally without respecting cultural diversity or unique political systems, which hinders the promotion of human rights.

 

He added that human rights are not a Western concept but are deeply rooted in divine religions. While modern human rights were established in the aftermath of two world wars, the Quran emphasized human dignity over 14 centuries ago.

 

Commitment to Human Rights Based on Religious Principles

The Deputy Foreign Minister underscored that the Islamic Republic’s commitment to human rights stems from its Islamic faith and Constitution. He called on Western countries to acknowledge that Iran is a democratic system rooted in religious and Islamic rationality. He emphasized Iran’s significant achievements in promoting human rights and reiterated that the time for imposing Western standards has passed.

 

Highlighting the atrocities committed by the Israeli regime in Gaza over the past 15 months, Gharibabadi asserted that these countries have demonstrated they are not suitable models for human rights. He expressed gratitude for the majority support Iran received during the recent session, emphasizing that this support is a valuable asset for advancing Iran’s human rights policies.

 

Gharibabadi concluded by stating that Iran remains open to recommendations aimed at genuinely improving its human rights situation.